Optimization of electronic protection testing for the F/A-18 active guidance air-to-air weapon system

The AIM-120A Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) is the premier air-to-air missile in the US arsenal. Although designed to counter threats that employ analog-based Electronic Attack (EA), the new threat of digital-based EA, Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM), places a high priority on the capability to evaluate AMRAAM\u27 s Electronic Protection (EP), which is defined as the capability to counter EA. AMRAAM effectiveness is not only dependent on its own capability to counter EA, but also on the ability of the fighter aircraft radar to counter the same EA while supporting the AMRAAM ( via data links) during the AMRAAM\u27 s intercept profile. In the US Navy, the AMRAAM is carried by the F/A-18. EP testing of the two versions of F/A-18 radar has been limited due to funding constraints and other higher priority testing of the various capabilities associated with the air-to-air and air-to-ground F/A-18 mission requirements. In 1996, the US Navy funded the Weapon System Evaluation program, which includes EP testing of the F/A-18 and AMRAAM weapon system. Current test methods involve captive carriage of the AMRAAM against full-scale targets employing specific EA techniques. Radar data links to the missile are recorded in flight and replayed in the Hard-Ware In The Loop (HWIL) simulator to test missile performance during simulated missile intercept of the same EA threat. Twenty simulations are executed in the HWIL for each test flight to calculate missile probability of guidance (Po). For each HWIL simulation, 50 lethality simulations are executed to calculate probability of weapon effectiveness (PWE), Final products of the test program are a table illustrating Po and a bar chart illustrating PWE against several specific EA threats, including in both cases performance of the missile with perfect aircraft radar support to isolate missile performance. Neither the table nor the chart includes uncertainty associated with the calculated probabilities. A closer look at the test methods revealed that only a few tests of aircraft radar are used to characterize aircraft radar performance versus the EA threat while thousands of simulations are used to characterize AMRAAM performance. For the average number of test runs of each radar mode, the uncertainty associated with the aircraft radar performance calculation was found to be± 43.6% while the uncertainty associated with AMRAAM performance calculation was found to be± 1.39% (using 95% confidence interval). The combined uncertainty is± 44.4%, which spans a wide range of performance for any calculation of Po or PWE. The large uncertainty does not offer a solid foundation on which to base fighter tactics. Three methods of increasing the number of radar performance data were investigated for the purpose of decreasing the uncertainty associated with EP testing. First, synthetic data link file generation was determined to be ineffective because the data link error files were not stationary or ergotic, signal characteristics that are required for accurate generation of data link files. Second, time shift expansion, which involves generation of additional data link files (more radar performance data) from the recorded aircraft radar track files, was found to have some potential to reduce uncertainty. More evaluation would be necessary to quantify effectiveness. However, the effectiveness of time shift expansion would be limited at best because it does not add to the general characterization of aircraft radar performance against EA (no new radar performance runs, only more data from existing runs). Third, the NA VAIR Weapons Division China Lake F/A-18 radar laboratory was researched as a method for generating more radar simulations against EA to more fully characterize radar performance. Utilization of the radar laboratory was determined to be by far the best technique for optimizing weapons system testing. The higher cost associated with more independent aircraft radar runs would reduce the number of test flights per year by one (due to the fixed budget), but the dramatic reduction in uncertainty (from± 44.4% to± 20.5%) would be well worth the cost. Calculating PWE against four types of EA within 20.5% is much more valuable than calculating PWE for five types within 44.4%. The AMRAAM will remain in the US arsenal for many more years, and will face many new threats. The AMRAAM Integrated Project Team should pursue incorporation of the radar laboratory simulations into the EP testing process to significantly improve the accuracy associated with evaluation of weapon system performance. Additionally, NA VAIR should work towards long-term co-development of coupled systems such as the F/ A-18 radar and the AMRAAM to save money and to increase overall performance by allowing optimization of the weapon system through coherent development of system components

The Development of a Prison Mental Health Unit in England: Understanding Realist Context(s).

A pragmatic solution for the provision of care for prisoners with serious mental illness, who are often subject to delays in hospital transfer, is the creation of specialist prison units. This paper analyses the development of a prison unit in England for prisoners with ‘serious mental illness’. The unit was developed within over-lapping health and justice contexts, including expectations, pressures and priorities, which impacted on the outcomes expected and achieved. The methodology included attendance at Steering group meetings, analysis of a minimum dataset, and interviews with key stakeholders. A number of key sites of contestation are analyzed including: admission criteria; aims; activities; staffing; the physical environment; and discharge

Making space for mental health care within the penal estate

In this paper we explore the enfolding spatialities of control and care within the penal estate through analysis of the creation of a unit for prisoners with serious mental illnesses (SMIs). Prisons have increasingly become the key institutions for mental health care provision, yet serious mental illness disrupts the self-government upon which contemporary prison regimes are based. Our analysis highlights the ‘trouble’ institutions face in making space for mental health care; in trying to fit different control-care regimes into existing carceral environments. We argue that the different actors that have made space for this control-care have been open to potentiality. Developments have been experimental, emergent and incomplete; often not officially challenging wider institutional processes, but eluding them. What emerges is an institution within an institution with a certain level of spatial autonomy but constrained in its transformative potential

A small satellite design for deep space network testing and training

With the continuing exploration of the Solar System and the reemphasis on Earth focused missions, the need for faster data transmission rates has grown. Ka-band could allow a higher data delivery rate over the current X-band, however the adverse effects of the Earth's atmosphere on Ka are as yet unknown. The Deep Space Network and Jet Propulsion Lab have proposed to launch a small satellite that would simultaneously transmit X and Ka signals to test the viability of switching to Ka-band. The Mockingbird Design Team at the University of Texas at Austin applied small satellite design principles to achieve this objective. The Mockingbird design, named BATSAT, incorporates simple, low-cost systems designed for university production and testing. The BATSAT satellite is a 0.64 m diameter, spherical panel led satellite, mounted with solar cells and omni-directional antennae. The antennae configuration negates the need for active attitude control or spin stabilization. The space-frame truss structure was designed for 11 g launch loads while allowing for easy construction and solar-panel mounting. The communication system transmits at 1 mW by carrying the required Ka and X-band transmitters, as well as an S band transmitter used for DSN training. The power system provides the 8.6 W maximum power requirements via silicon solar arrays and nickel-cadmium batteries. The BATSAT satellite will be lofted into an 1163 km, 70 deg orbit by the Pegasus launch system. This orbit fulfills DSN dish slew rate requirements while keeping the satellite out of the heaviest regions of the Van Allen radiation belts. Each of the three DSN stations capable of receiving Ka-band (Goldstone, Canberra, and Madrid) will have an average of 85 minutes of view-time per day over the satellites ten year design life. Mockingbird Designs hopes that its small satellite design will not only be applicable to this specific mission scenario, but that it could easily be modified for instrument capability for university, government, and/or commercial research

The introduction and development of a mental health integrated support unit within an English Prison: clinical, care staff and Operational Officer perspectives

Purpose: There is clear evidence that prison can be detrimental to mental health and that wider society has tended to assume ‘out of sight, out of mind’ for prisoners in mental distress. The lack of access to effective mental health care in prisons along with increasingly lower numbers of prison officers, or Operational Officers (OO) has created a negative culture that requires the development of specialist services. With this comes a need to conduct evaluations, and investigations, into the roles of Operational Officers and mental healthcare staff. This work reports on a commissioned evaluation around the introduction and development of a HMP Mental Health Unit, named the Integrated Support Unit (ISU), in the North of England. Our section of the wider evaluation focuses on the early team building, working practice and development of mental health registered nurses, other care staff and Operational Officers within the ISU. Design/methodology/approach: Three focus groups incorporating two professional groups took place on the Integrated Support Unit (ISU). The first of six Mental Health Workers (MHW) including Registered Mental Health Nurses and support workers; the second of two sets of two ISU dedicated Operational Officers (OO). The areas addressed within each of the groups concerned why staff wanted to work in the ISU, as well as how they would measure its potential success, and the necessary skills competencies and training they thought were required to prepare them to work in the area. Findings: Overall, the participants expressed an interest or enthusiasm for their work having actively chosen to work in the ISU. There was a strong sense of a wish for the unit to succeed; in fact, success was a motivating drive for all. Both Operational Officers and mental health workers emphasised the importance of teamworking, autonomy and freedom as well as information sharing. Analysis also revealed many areas of practice which were challenging. The findings are optimistic for the development of such special units as evaluated here. The drivers for different professions along with their measures of success in the field are discussed in detail. The relationship, expectations, hopes and needs of both mental health workers and prison officers working in a multidisciplinary unit provide useful information to support both policy and practice in the field. We make recommendations around training regimes and how they can effectively coordinate the different symbiotic professional roles. The integrated Support Unit is a new initiative in offender management within prisons and is reviewed as a model of mental health practice in prison settings. Practical implications: • The value in recruiting to the ISU dedicated OOs, with committed interests in mental health. • A continued emphasis on the ongoing development of team working, focusing on issues of risk, trust, and treatment. • The development (by nurses) of a formal/mandatory period of training for new OO’s prior to taking up a role on the ISU. • For mental health nurses to embrace team leadership/educator roles in the areas of mental health awareness, team building and conflict resolution. • To capture and formulate and develop the specific range of mental health interventions offered within the ISU. Originality/value: • The presented research explores and evaluates the introduction of a new mental health wing (ISU) for 11 patients in a northern UK prison. • It does this through the consideration of group discussions with both mental health workers and operational officers on this wing. • This work is part of a larger study

On-Orbit Measurement of Next Generation Space Solar Cell Technology on the International Space Station

Measurement is essential for the evaluation of new photovoltaic (PV) technology for space solar cells. NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) is in the process of measuring several solar cells in a supplemental experiment on NASA Goddard Space Flight Center's (GSFC) Robotic Refueling Mission's (RRM) Task Board 4 (TB4). Four industry and government partners have provided advanced PV devices for measurement and orbital environment testing. The experiment will be on-orbit for approximately 18 months. It is completely self-contained and will provide its own power and internal data storage. Several new cell technologies including four- junction (4J) Inverted Metamorphic Multijunction (IMM) cells will be evaluated and the results compared to ground-based measurements

Capecitabine and mitomycin C as third-line therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer resistant to fluorouracil and irinotecan

Protracted venous infusion 5-fluorouracil (5FU) combined with mitomycin C (MMC) has demonstrated significant activity against metastatic colorectal cancer. Owing to potential synergy based upon upregulation of thymidine phosphorylase by MMC, the combination of capecitabine and MMC may improve outcomes in irinotecan-refractory disease. Eligible patients with progressive disease during or within 6 months of second-line chemotherapy were treated with capecitabine (1250 mg m−2 twice daily) days 1–14 every 3 weeks and MMC (7 mg m−2 IV bolus) once every 6 weeks. A total of 36 patients were recruited, with a median age of 64 years (range 40–77), and 23 patients (78%) were performance status 0–1. The objective response rate was 15.2%. In all, 48.5% of patients had stable disease. Median failure-free survival was 5.4 months (95% CI 4.6–6.2). Median overall survival was 9.3 months (95% CI: 6.9–11.7). Grade 3 toxicities were palmar-plantar erythema 16.7%, vomiting 8.3%, diarrhoea 2.8%, anaemia 8.3%, and neutropenia 2.8%. No patients developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Symptomatic improvement occurred for pain, bowel symptoms, and dyspnoea. Capecitabine in combination with MMC is an effective regimen for metastatic colorectal cancer resistant to 5FU and irinotecan with an acceptable toxicity profile and a convenient administration schedule

Am I just not good enough? The creation, development and questioning of a high performance coaching identity

While the career experiences and trajectories of various sports workers have received increased scholarly attention, those of professional coaches have, in comparison, received scant consideration. This paper focuses on the career experiences of Maeve (a pseudonym), a high performance coach, and the critical incidents related to the creation, development, and, ultimately, questioning of her professional identity. Data were collected through a series of narrative-biographical interviews and were subject to a process of iterative data analysis. The results indicated that her significant investment into her coaching self, combined with the vagaries and uncertain nature of work in high performance coaching, led her to experience a biographical disruption that interrupted the narrative coherence of her coaching life. The findings add further credence to recent critiques of only understanding and representing coaching careers in a linear and chronically staged fashion

Observation of hard scattering in photoproduction events with a large rapidity gap at HERA

Events with a large rapidity gap and total transverse energy greater than 5 GeV have been observed in quasi-real photoproduction at HERA with the ZEUS detector. The distribution of these events as a function of the $\gamma p$ centre of mass energy is consistent with diffractive scattering. For total transverse energies above 12 GeV, the hadronic final states show predominantly a two-jet structure with each jet having a transverse energy greater than 4 GeV. For the two-jet events, little energy flow is found outside the jets. This observation is consistent with the hard scattering of a quasi-real photon with a colourless object in the proton.Comment: 19 pages, latex, 4 figures appended as uuencoded fil